Under the Night Sky- 17/10/25-24/10/25

By Melanie McQuigg

Start your countdown ! We’re only 66 days from hitting peak winter stargazing season. This is when our nights grow longer, our days get colder and the most dazzling, far-away marvels of the cosmos appear clearer and more unbelievably wonderful than at any other time of the year.

This week is packed with three spectacular celestial shows, including a highly anticipated visit from a newly discovered comet and one of the year’s best meteor showers under optimal dark-sky conditions.   

Saturday 18th-Sunday 19th October-Swan Comet 

The recently discovered Comet C/2025 R2, also known as the Swan Comet, is sweeping through our inner solar and will be visible all week but will be especially great during the nights of Saturday and Sunday. Look out for it about 45 minutes after sunset, it will be low on the western horizon and will be visible to the naked eye from dark-sky locations. 

This comet is special as it is a long-awaited visitor from the outer solar system, taking about 22’554 years to complete its orbit. Its most distinctive feature is its brilliant, vivid green tail and coma, which is a striking contrast against the twilight sky. 

Monday 20th-Tuesday 21st October- Orionids shower 

One of the most dramatic meteor showers of the year will reach its maximum activity and will be visible this week. 

The Orionids are known for their speed, with meteors entering the atmosphere at nearly 66km/s ! This high velocity often creates quick, bright streaks and even spectacular lingering trails of glowing gas. During the peak hours between midnight and dawn, you should expect to see an average of about 15–20 meteors per hour in ideal conditions. 

This year provides perfect viewing conditions. This shower peaks just as the New Moon occurs, meaning that there will be no moonlight interference. As its peak viewing times will be between midnight and dawn, you’ll be seeing pieces of Halley Comet on the way to school.

Thursday 23rd October-Moon near Mars

This is the night of a beautiful cosmic pairing as the slender crescent Moon will appear in close proximity to the red planet, Mars. 

This event, known as an appulse (a close visual alignment), will feature the thin, illuminated crescent moon appearing quite close to the bright, red planet Mars.

If you look low on the western horizon shortly after the sunset, you will see it in all its glory.